In a sex scene, Fanning's character protests that she is in fact 21. After a discussion about his infidelity, Fanning's character then asks Law, "Were all these women for pleasure, or were you researching a project?"

But the described scene seems to mirror a similar subplot in Allen's 1979 romantic comedy Manhattan, in which he played a 42-year-old sitcom writer in a relationship with a 17-year-old girl. I would call her every day on the way to work. It's sobering plot point given Allen's history for casting himself among much younger women and allegations he sexually abused his daughter, Dylan Farrow.

Complex's headline for the review of Irrational Man was "Woody Allen Should Retire", noting that the "older-man-younger-woman fantasy is troubling, especially in light of the filmmaker's recent controversy". Those allegations came to light after Farrow left Allen for having an affair with Previn. Just a little more than a week ago, the Titanic star shared her disgust to the LA Times following the many sexual harassment and assault allegations brought against the former studio executive. "The whole Harvey Weinstein thing is very sad for everybody involved", he told the BBC. "That's not right either".

Allen later released a statement saying the comment, "When I said I felt sad for Harvey Weinstein, I thought it was clear the meaning was because he is a sad, sick man".

Asked about the criticism she faced on social media for the interview, Winslet said, "I don't read how people respond to things".